Playa del Carmen, La Quinta Street Highlights #2

Posted on March 31, 2013 by www.thenaturalsite.com

Mexican Cuisine, no doors, no walls and no windows. The traditional style of building on La Quinta.

Restaurant/Bar with Mexican Cuisine, notice the absence of doors, walls and windows. This traditional style of building is the norm
on La Quinta Ave.,

The pedestrian promenade of La Qunita or Fifth Avenue attracts an international mix of travelers and is the place to see and be seen while in Playa. A party atmosphere, created by the nightclubs, bars and restaurants on La Qunita; keeps the grown up good time crowd around until the wee hours of the morning. On another level, La Qunita attracts people for it’s down to earth lifestyles and egalitarian spirit characterized by the very casual style of dress seen everywhere, the variety of businesses that offer both low end and high end merchandise or services and the friendly attitudes of most people around town. The photo gallery of this edition and the prior edition illustrates what has made La Qunita Ave one of Playa’s main attractions.

One of several starbuck’s in Playa, looks like if you drink to much coffee the police will give you a ticket for being under the influence of caffeine.

If it has doors and windows you cannot negotiate prices

Be careful of what you put in these pipes

CD’s and miscellaneous items for sale

leather, bags, mask and miscellaneous items for sale, has no doors so the prices are negotiable

specializes in mexican cusine, has no doors, walls or windows

This plaza currently marks the north end of La Quinta, It offers restaurants, cafes, music and bars

At the north end of La Quinta across from Plaza Luna

Right in front of Plaza Luna. Makes fresh juices for your health

A pavilion hotel lobby with bar and front desk around 34th street and la quinta

Offers speciality merchandise, cuban cigars, a restaurant with cuban food and music

100 percent natural fruit juices freshly squeezed

japanese cuisine and sushi

hats, bags, souvenir’s and local color

The south end of La Qunita during semana santa week (easter)

This is the steepest hill to climb on La Qunita

Playa del Carmen Highlights, La Qunita Street

Posted on March 23, 2013 by www.thenaturalsite.com

a bar and grill with sports betting decorated for saint patrick's day

A bar and grill with sports betting on La Quinta as well as St. Patricks Day decorations.

La Qunita or Fifth Avenue is the entertainment and shopping center of Playa del Carmen. It is a pedestrian only street parallel to the beach and is somewhat like a boardwalk except that the beach is a block away. What is unique about this street is that the majority of restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and even retailers feature an open air or sidewalk atmosphere. At this time, La Quinta is over 30 blocks in length and still expanding, so you need good walking shoes if you plan to see it all in one night. Here you will find a huge variety of restaurants, nightclubs, cafes, local bars, specialty retailers, services, hotels, hostels, kiosk’s and art galleries to visit on this strip. While some of the vendors on this street have a reputation for being very aggressive, keep in mind that these are mostly small business owned shops not corporations with advertising dollars to spend. That said, the photo gallery below is just a small sample of what you can expect to find on La Quinta Avenue.

One of several galleries on La Qunita with original art work

Karen’s found on La Quinta specializes in steak and seafood, there is also live entertainment’ here during the afternoon’s and evening’s.

Hand make textiles from the state of Chipas on La Quinta

Tattoo’s and Body piercing art on La Quinta

a pizza stand with slices or whole pies

at the intersection of la quinta and calle corazon

Tequila for sale along with a history lesson

a popular open air restaurant with natural organic foods

One of several alley’s found along la quinta ave. this one is home to the popular casa mediterrain restaurant a several boutique retail shops

This vine covered hotel is one of the first on La Quinta and is also one of the most affordable

The original Katrina image was created in 1910 by artist Jose Posada to symbolize the death of indigenous mexican culture but today the original meaning has been obscured and Catrina is now associated with the day of the dead rituals.

a custom design clothing shop

Enjoy italian ice cream on La Quinta

open air bar on La Quinta

There are several shops that feature Ceramic art work and talavera pottery on La Quinta

Specializing in soccer jersey’s, hats and masks

Playa Del Carmen Highlights, Xcaret Park

Posted on March 14, 2013 by www.thenaturalsite.com

This inlet leads to the carribean or the restaurant in the background

This inlet leads snorkelers and swimmers to the carribean or the restaurant in the background

Xcaret Park was created to promote nature and mexican cultural heritage. To that end, part of the admission price is donated to developing programs for the preservation of wild flora and fauna. There are quite a variety of leisure and recreational activities in the park but all are related to this objective. In general, the main attractions include underground rivers, natural pools and inlets for snorkeling, exhibitions which include archeological zones, re-creations of ancient mayan cities along with mayan ceremonies, flora and fauna found on interpretative jungle trails, orchid and bromelaid museums, a butterfly pavilion, natural habitats for jaguars, puma’s and monkeys, aquariums, bee farms and deer shelters. The latest in their long list of natural attractions is the Sea Trek underwater adventure that offers a new technology for diving underwater without extensive training and cumbersome gear. All you need is their new hi-tech diving helmet that keeps water out while air is pumped in from a boat that hovers above the dive site. So, it is now possible for almost everyone to experience the coral reefs and tropical fish for which the Carribean is famous. Ladies will find this new helmet especially appealing because the helmet keeps hair dry and prevents make-up from washing off.

This organ grinder walks around the park and plays traditional mexican folk music

Bromeliads like these are found in the musuem and on interpretive jungle trails

another exhibition of ancient ceremonies which involves bird men that descend from the top of this pole by doing circles in the air to honor the sun god.

this is one of several performances that involve ancient maya rituals and customs

here’s where you jump in and let the current move you through the waters

spider monkey island is a natural habitat for a family of these amusing primates

one of may butterflies within this pavilion

a monarch butterfly sculpture along the trail through this pavilion

cat prowling through the parks jaguar island

inside the maya archeological zone

a natural pool for sun tanning, relaxing and bathing

the opening of a horse exhibition within the grounds of a typical 19th century hacienda compound.

Xcaret inlet meets the carribean

snorkelers at the end of a one way underground river

Playa del Carmen Highlights, Mamita’s Beach

Posted on March 8, 2013 by www.thenaturalsite.com

The most popular beach in this authentic mexican resort is Mamita’s at the north end of Playa and a block from La Quinta Avenue, the pedestrian only entertainment center of town. Thanks to the amenities offered by Mamita’s s Beach Club and Kool’s adult beach club next door, you don’t need to bring anything with you other than a swim suit to enjoy a day at the beach as illustrated by the following series of images.

Mamita’s Beach Club Bar and Restaurant also serves guest on the beach

In addition to the restaurant, the beach club also has a lounge with a sound system and drinks to go.

Kools Bar and Adult Beach Club is right next door to Mamita’s but is for adults only. They offer many of the same services and amenities as mamita’s beach club